Prof Mohammed Jahed holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Pretoria and is currently Professor in the School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy, College of Business and Economics at the University of Johannesburg. He was appointed as Commissioner with the National Planning Commission in December 2021.

He has worked in the public sector at senior management level, consulted to both the public and private sectors, as well as international organisations. Jahed has served on various Boards, including, Chair: D1 Bio-fuels, Chair: Magalies Water Board and was appointed to the Presidential BBBEE Advisory Council of South Africa. Prof Jahed was senior economic planning specialist at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and later re-joined the DBSA as Divisional Executive: Policy and Integration. He served as Deputy Director General: Office of the Premier Limpopo Province. Prof Jahed joined the National Business Initiative, as Director of Economics.

He was seconded by the South African Presidency as Chief Economist and Head of Policy, Strategy and Research to the NEPAD Secretariat. Prof Jahed was appointed Associate Professor at the University of Witwatersrand in the Graduate School of Public and Development Management. He has served as Visiting Professor at the Universities of Witwatersrand, Stellenbosch Business School, and DE Montfort. Prof Jahed was appointed to establish the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) and was appointed the Director of the PBO from 2013 to 2018.